Ten Years of Magic
"You're a Wizard Harry."
by Stacy Phay
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts.
In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort.
It all ends here.
For ten years we have been watching Harry Potter grow up on screen alongside his wizard friends. On Friday the final battle between Harry and the ultimate evil wizard, Voldermort, ends what has been one of the biggest, most successful book to screen adaptations in the history of cinema.
It all began in 2001 when “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was adapted to the screen by producer David Heyman and screenwriter Steve Kloves. At the time “Deathly Hallows” was not yet published, and no one truly knew what a complete success this franchise would become. Now, coming upon the finale with part two of book 7 and movie 8 in the series, Harry Potter is a household name, known to audiences young and old, worldwide.
Throughout the series the theme has been the power of love and the strength of friendship and family. The three main characters, Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, embodied that theme and literally grew up in front of our eyes as we watched them become capable wizards who’s bond could not be broken by any magic spell or evil wizard.
It is Ron and Hermione that continuously help Harry as he attempts to defeat Voldermort, but his friends at Hogwarts and members of the Order of the Phoenix also play a big role in the final battle between good and evil when the final showdown is taken to Hogwarts.
This franchise marks one of the only in history to employ the same actors in each film, with the exception of headmaster Dumbledore who’s original actor sadly passed away after the second film had been released. This ensemble cast of well known actors mixed with youngsters who would soon become well known have captured our hearts through each film.
It was important that the roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione be filled with actors whom audiences would connect. And who truly embodied the characters from the books in ways that readers would be happy with. Finding Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson would seem to be a magic trick in itself. We have watched as these young actors turned into young adults before our eyes, and along with some of us.
Producer David Heyman about the young cast “Over the course of these films, we’ve truly had the who’s who of British acting royalty on our stages, which was tremendous. But watching our young cast grow into fine actors and fine people has been one of the great joys of working on the Harry Potter films. We’re incredibly proud of them.”
Daniel talks about playing Harry “I couldn’t even attempt to sum up what the role of Harry Potter has meant to me, but I can say that I never took the opportunity to play him lightly. It may have been the same character, but like anyone else, Harry changed a lot over the years so, as an actor, I looked at each film as an opportunity to do something fresh and to develop another set of skills.”
“I feel very privileged to have played Hermione,” says Watson. “I think she’s someone young girls can look up to because she’s always true to herself. She’s very smart and an incredibly courageous and loyal friend who keeps a cool head in extremely difficult situations. It was wonderful to be able to bring across those elements of her personality throughout the films.”
“I know I’ll miss playing Ron because there was a time when I was him more than I wasn’t him,” Grint laughs. “And I really liked the development of his character. He started out as a kid who was quite easily scared and it was nice to see him grow up to be brave and resourceful, particularly in this last movie where they are in such an unpredictable and dangerous place.”
With the final battle being waged the last film needed to be as epic and harrowing as the fight itself, so it was important that the filmmakers put together a bigger, bolder and more impressive on screen experience. For Part 2 the filmmakers utilized 3D technology to give the film a more epic, magical feel. It is the first and only Harry Potter film to use this technology.
The entire wizard world is embattled in this war and Harry must make use of every goblin, dragon, otherworldly creature and human he can find to help him take on Lord Voldermort and his army. And it all must happen at the place where it all began. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Knowing that this was the last time they would be using the sets, the cast and crew felt a sense of nostalgia as each scene was completed. Destroying the sets for Hogwarts and Gringotts was both exhilarating and heartbreaking for all involved.
While most of the films stuck fairly closely to the events that were already laid out by J.K. Rowling in each book, some liberties were taken with locations, character interactions and scenery. But all changes were done with the blessings of the author.
Saying goodbye to much loved characters and a much loved series is always hard, but it seems that with Harry Potter the sense of completion is even more heartbreaking. We watched as a young boy named Harry grew into the heroic, brave and exceptional wizard his destiny had laid out for him.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" opens in theaters worldwide Friday July 15 in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D.
Check out the official trailer:
For more on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" and to read our review visit The EnterTeenment Cineplex